Few cakes come with credentials as astounding as Brambrak. It's a traditional Irish Cake with a sizeable claim to fame- one slice will reveal your future.
Come Halloween, a Barmbrack would be baked, sliced and served amongst family and friends in almost every Irish home. But unlike a simple sponge, this cake had a mystical twist. Buried within the fruit-filled cake hide a number of charms- the baker's tools of divination. To find one within your slice was to steal a glance into your future.
When it comes to flowers, there are few the brits love quite as much as the rose. Its beautiful blooms and breathtaking scent have enthralled the hearts of the nation for over half a millennia (since the Tudor Rose became our nation’s emblem), despite the bite of its sharp thorns. This love is shown in […]
t’s a bit of a cliche these days to say that Christmas comes earlier each year. In the Kitchen Table Revolution, we started preparing for yuletide festivities way back in January when we set aside a special jar of home-made marmalade. It continues throughout the year, having just bottled our stash of Sloe Gin and visited a pear tree (minus the partridge) to gather the main ingredients for this weekend's make; Rosehip and Pear Jelly (see recipe below). The perfect alternative to cranberry sauce to go with this year's Turkey.
When it comes to hedgerow foraging, one of our favorite seasonal gems is the humble hazelnut. It’s deliciously nutty and fantastically versatile- a true treat. This week’s recipe centers around this hedgerow hero, pairing it with silky smooth chocolate- a true match made in heaven. For those of you yet to buy our latest bestseller: […]
Researching for this blog I opened a veritable Pandora's box of folklore. Apparently juniper could be used for anything from Protecting your home from thieves and witches, treating burns and even a vaginal douche. Oh, and making Gin of course.
It is my job to distill the stories to the very spirit of what this seemingly powerful plant meant to our ancestors and indeed still means to many people today. This is no mean feat, as Juniper turns out to be one of the most widespread shrubs in the Northern Hemisphere, being found from the arctic tundra in the North, right to the edge of the tropics in the South, and everywhere in between.
Come with me now on a journey through time and space, to the fifth dimension of flavour, Umami. It’s the dawn of time. Our ancestor is examining the remains of her charred jungle home after narrowly escaping a devastating forest fire with her life. Just a little way from the edge of where the inferno […]
Are nettles the marmite of the foraging world? Since the beginning of time we have had a love hate relationship with these amazing plants. Rubbing up against them with a bare leg definitely makes me share an expletive but when they are served up on the dinner table I am delighted. They are nutritious, free, […]
How do you quiet your mind? Stress relief comes in many forms- exercise, meditation, forest bathing are all amazing ways to quiet your mind and connect with yourself. But I'd be lying if I said I didn’t occasionally indulge in less constructive forms of stress relief- a strong drink. But there’s a reason people flock […]
Tastes and smells are one of the most powerful tools for unlocking our memories. Perhaps that’s why childhood sweets have such a special place in our hearts. There's just something about the sweet treats of our youthful days that stick with us. The taste, the smell and the vibrant packaging have the spellbinding power to […]
Dandelion Magic: Size Matters Dandelions are popping up everywhere at the moment. So why not treat those you love the most in your life and cook up some beautiful dandelions to eat, Give the ultimate gift this year - your time and a new experience and get your family out collecting. Get outside, take in […]